What is basic strategy in blackjack?

Basic strategy is the mathematically optimal play for every possible hand total against every dealer up-card. Following it perfectly reduces the house edge to roughly 0.5% under standard rules (six decks, dealer stands on soft 17, doubling allowed on any two cards, blackjack pays 3:2). This simulator grades every decision you make so you can see your accuracy in real time.

How accurate is this blackjack simulator?

The shoe uses a cryptographically secure Fisher–Yates shuffle. Dealer behavior, card-total evaluation, payouts, and split/double/surrender rules all follow standard casino conventions. You can configure common rule sets (Vegas Strip, Downtown, Atlantic City, Single-Deck, European ENHC) and see exactly how they change edge and decisions.

How does card counting work?

Card counting tracks the ratio of high cards (10s, Aces) to low cards (2–6) remaining in the shoe. A positive running count means high cards remain — favorable for the player because they produce more blackjacks and more dealer busts. Dividing running count by decks remaining gives the true count; rough rule of thumb: each +1 true count shifts roughly 0.5% of edge from the house to the player. Hi-Lo is the standard entry-level system used here.

Does 3:2 vs 6:5 blackjack really matter?

Yes — enormously. A 6:5 blackjack payout adds roughly 1.4% to the house edge compared to 3:2 under otherwise identical rules. Toggle the rule in the simulator to watch the effect on your long-run net profit.

Is taking insurance ever the right play?

Without an edge from card counting, no. Insurance is a side bet that dealer has a 10 in the hole given an Ace up. Mathematically the house edge on insurance is ~7%, so basic strategy rejects it every time. With a positive true count (roughly +3 or higher) insurance can become profitable — the simulator flags it as −EV by default.

Free Blackjack Strategy Simulator & Basic Strategy Trainer

Practice perfect basic strategy against configurable rule sets, see your decision accuracy in real time, and learn card counting (Hi-Lo, KO, Hi-Opt II) with a running + true count displayed on every hand. Cryptographically shuffled shoe, no signup, no real money.

House Edge: ~0.5% w/ Basic StrategyHi-Lo Count Built-in5 Rule Presets

Last updated: April 22, 2026

Blackjack Strategy Simulator

Practice perfect basic strategy, track your decision accuracy, and learn card counting — risk-free.

Free to PlayBasic Strategy TrainerHi-Lo Count

Free to play · No signup required

How the Blackjack Strategy Simulator Works

Blackjack is the only major casino game where skilled play can bring the house edge under 1%. Every decision — hit, stand, double, split, surrender — has a mathematically correct answer for the specific combination of your hand, the dealer's up-card, and the rule set in play. This simulator computes that optimal action on every hand and grades your choice.

The shoe is shuffled using a cryptographically secure Fisher–Yates algorithm. Penetration (how deep into the shoe the dealer goes before reshuffling) and deck count are both configurable. Toggling between S17/H17, DAS, surrender options, and 3:2 vs 6:5 blackjack payouts lets you feel the impact of rule variations on your long-run results.

The card-counting panel updates with every face-up card. Hi-Lo gives you a balanced Level-1 count — the standard recreational entry point. KO is unbalanced and skips true-count conversion. Hi-Opt II is a stronger Level-2 system with separate Ace side-counting. Your running count, true count, and estimated player edge are shown live so you can practice the mental math under realistic pressure.

Basic Strategy Chart Viewer

Interactive chart showing the mathematically optimal action for every hand total vs. every dealer up-card. Switch between rule presets to see how surrender, DAS, and dealer soft-17 behavior reshape the correct play. The chart is generated live from the same engine the simulator uses.

Rules

Vegas Strip: The friendly Vegas standard. Six decks, dealer stands on soft 17, you can double after split, late surrender allowed, blackjack pays 3:2. ~0.40% house edge — the baseline this calculator compares to.

6D·S17·DAS·BJ 3:2·LS

Hard	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
8	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
9	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	R	R
16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	R	R	R
17	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

HHit — Take another card.

SStand — Take no more cards.

DDouble — Double bet + 1 card. If not allowed, hit instead.

PSplit — Split the pair into two hands.

RSurrender — Forfeit half your bet. If not allowed, hit instead.

How to read this

House Edge Calculator

Toggle rule variations and watch the house edge update in real time. The biggest single-rule hit is blackjack paying 6:5 instead of 3:2 — almost +1.4% alone. Use this to compare tables before you sit down.

Rules

DecksDealer on soft 17Double allowedDouble after split (DAS)Resplit aces (RSA)Max splitsSurrenderDealer peek (US-style)Blackjack pays

Estimated house edge

0.49%

Matches Vegas Strip baseline

Vegas Strip baseline = ~0.40% edge with perfect basic strategy.

Breakdown

vs Vegas Strip

green / negative = better for you · red / positive = worse for you

Baseline (6D, S17, DAS, LS, 3:2)+0.41%
No resplit of aces+0.08%

How to read this

Count Drill Trainer

Cards flash by one at a time — keep a running count in your head and enter it at the end. Pick Hi-Lo, KO, or Hi-Opt II and crank the speed up to drill for real-table conditions.